Andrew Flintoff took just two balls to make a statement of intent for the Ashes summer following his surprise return to first-class action this morning.

Back in his delivery stride: Lancashire's Andrew Flintoff bowls during the LV County Championship match against Durham

Just over six weeks after surgery on a knee injury picked up in the Indian Premier League, the England all-rounder was selected to play for Lancashire in their LV County Championship Division One match at Durham.

He was kept out of the attack at Chester-le-Street early on but after being handed the ball for the 12th over, Flintoff had opener Michael Di Venuto caught behind off his second delivery.

It was a stirring response to the doubters who feared he might struggle to play a significant part against the Australians when battle commences next month.

And Lancashire coach Peter Moores insisted he had no doubts about sending Flintoff back into the fray.

"Over the last four of five days he's increased his intensity and bowled a bit more each day, and he came through very well this morning.

So he's fit to play," Moores told Sky Sports. "He's keen to get as much cricket in as he can before the Ashes."

Moores, the former England coach, added: "It's always a risk when you play, no doubt about that.

"But he's sensible, he's done a lot of rehab work and is going very strongly. The medical teams at the ECB and Lancashire are very happy and he's got the chance to get some miles in his legs.

"He looks to be moving very well and there's no pain in that knee at all."

Lancashire physio Dave Roberts revealed the decision to play Flintoff had been reached with full agreement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

"Fred has been working extremely hard on his recovery and fitness and it has been carefully monitored by the England medical staff," said Roberts this morning. "Dr Nick Pearce, the ECB's chief medical officer, and I have been working closely together and we felt that his knee had sufficiently recovered for him to return to action.

Field of dreams: Flintoff (left) fields off his own bowling and collides with Lancashire wicketkeeper Luke Sutton (right)

"The ECB medical team have been extremely supportive to me and Lancashire and now it's just a question of Fred getting in some time in the middle and overs under his belt.

"All the work Fred has done, particularly on a recent trip to Portugal when he was pushed really hard, means that he is slightly ahead of schedule in his recovery, but he will continue his rehabilitation both on and off the field and hopefully he will be 100 per cent again before not too long."

Flintoff was widely expected to be held back for next week's match against Hampshire at Liverpool. He underwent knee surgery upon his return from the IPL in South Africa, but hopes he might be able to play in the current World Twenty20 proved premature.

That raised fears he might struggle to play a full part in the Ashes series which begins in Cardiff next month - although the Lancastrian insisted that was "not an option" yesterday.

Flintoff's spirits - and those of England fans everywhere - were raised over the last week when he was able to bowl and bat outdoors in public for the first time during breaks in play in his county's match against Somerset at Old Trafford.